Obituaries for Sept. 19 edition

The Rev. Sammy Brister, 66, of Ardmore, Ala., died Monday (Sept.10, 2012) at his home. Funeral services were conducted Thursday afternoon at Elkton Baptist Church, Elkton, with Bros. William Suddarth and Billy Taylor officiating. Burial was in Wellman Baptist Church Cemetery, Brookhaven, Ms. Memorial donations may be made to the Elkton Baptist Church Building Fund or Church Bus Fund. Ardmore Chapel Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Roy Bernard Harris Sr., 86, of Fayetteville, died Tuesday (Sept. 11, 2012) Mr. Harris was a native of Tazwell, Va., son of the late Thomas Milton and Maude Wyatt Harris and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving in the South Pacific during World War II. He was owner an operator of the Terrace Motel and Restaurant and also the Sands Motel and Restaurant for many years. He was a member of the Fayetteville First Baptist Church. Survivors include his son, Roy Harris, Jr., of Fayetteville; daughter, Lisa Harris of Michigan; brother, Hal Harris of Dayton, Ohio; sister, Phyllis Kappes of Alexandria, Ky.; and several nieces and nephews. Graveside services were conducted Saturday morning at Malone Cemetery in Ardmore with the Rev. Van Johnson officiating. Burial was beside his wife, Golda Roper Harris, who passed away in 2009. Memorials may be made to Malone Cemetery, c/o Roger Hicklen, 13 Gatlin Road, Ardmore, TN, 38449. Higgins Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

William Luther Hopkins, 89, of Fayetteville, died Sunday (Sept. 16, 2012) at the home of his daughter, Susan Long, in Knoxville after a sudden illness. He was born on May 17, 1923, the youngest son of William Thomas Hopkins and Onnie Mullins Hopkins in Lincoln County. He is preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Helen Joyce McFerrin Hopkins, after 51 years of marriage. He is also preceded in death by his brothers and sisters, Linne Smith, Haskel Hopkins, James Hopkins, Irene Gray, Annie Ruth Hopkins, Frances Rowell and Louise Jones. He is survived by his daughter, Susan Elizabeth Hopkins Long and son-in-law, David Wilson Long, of Knoxville. He is also survived by a grandson, David Wilson Long, Jr., of New York, N.Y.; granddaughter, Catherine Elizabeth Long of Knoxville; and sisters-in-laws, Mrs. James Hopkins (Elizabeth) and Mrs. Mike McFerrin (Bonnie), both of Fayetteville. Luther was an active member of First Baptist Church in Fayetteville. He was a decorated veteran of World War II, serving with the U.S. Army. He was a member of the 184th Infantry, and his heavy mortar unit “island-hopped” from the Aleutian Islands, Southern Philippines, Leyte, Iwo Jima and Okinawa, among others, in the Pacific Theater operations. His tour of duty ended after VJ Day as a unit commander in the occupation of South Korea. Mr. Hopkins worked for NASA at the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala., for over 30 years until his retirement. His work included installation of electrical panels in the first Mercury and Gemini space flights and later for the Apollo space flights. After his retirement from NASA, he continued farming in Fayetteville until 1997. The family asks that any memorials be made to First Baptist Church of Fayetteville, Tennessee, 210 N. Elk Avenue, Fayetteville, Tennessee 37334, or to Honor Air of Knox County, Tennessee, 7536 Taggart Lane, Knoxville, Tennessee 37938. The family will receive friends from 5 until 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20, at Higgins Funeral Home. A gravesite funeral service will be held at Blanche Cemetery, located on Highway 110 (Ardmore Highway) in Blanche, at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 21. Higgins Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Hattie Sue Waggoner Jones, 98, died Monday (Sept. 10, 2012) at Lincoln Care Center in Fayetteville. A native of Lynchburg and graduate of Moore County High School, she lived there until moving to Fayetteville in 1931. She worked with Dr. Robert McCown, making house calls with him and assisting in the home deliveries of several babies in the late 1930s. Hattie Sue married Earle Hopkins Jones, Jr., in 1940, and they moved a few months later to Washington, D.C., where they remained for nearly 50 years. Their daughter and son were both born and grew up in the D.C. area. She worked part-time in the offices of two physicians in the Virginia suburbs of D.C. while her children were growing up. In 1989, she and her husband returned to Fayetteville, where they enjoyed church and family activities. Her husband died in March 2005, shortly after they observed their 65th wedding anniversary. At the time of her death, Hattie Sue was the oldest female member of Fayetteville First Presbyterian Church. Survivors include her daughter, Susan Jones Smith of Huntsville, Ala.; her son, Earle H. Jones, III, of Arlington, Va.; grandson, Alan Wayne Smith of St. Augustine, Fla.; five nieces and eight nephews and their spouses and children. A graveside service was held in Rose Hill Cemetery on Wednesday morning. Memorial donations may be made to the Good Samaritan Association, 208 West Davidson Street, Fayetteville, TN 37334 or to Macular Degeneration Research, P.O. Box 1952, Clarksburg, MD 20871. Higgins Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Thelma Ray Parks, 94, of Fayetteville died Monday (Sept. 10, 2012). She was a native of Florence, Ala., and the daughter of the late J. Fred and Lucye Haynes Ray. Mrs. Parks graduated from Central High School in 1936. She attended Cumberland University in Lebanon before transferring to Western Kentucky where she graduated with a degree in Vocational Home Economics. Mrs. Parks was a career teacher and church organist. She taught sixth grade at Robert E. Lee, was an employee of Borden’s and taught at Flintville High School before transferring to Central High School to teach Home Economics for 25 years. Mrs. Parks was a devoted member of First Baptist Church, having served as church organist for 31 years. She rarely missed a Sunday morning, evening or Wednesday night service throughout her years as full-time organist. She played for Sunday school, children’s choirs, summer choir trips, funerals and weddings. She also served as a Sunday school teacher and member of the Women’s Missionary Union. Mr. and Mrs. Parks were married for 54 years and raised three daughters, Dorothy Lamb of Petersburg, Donna Campbell (Craig) of Springdale, Ark., Lucye Durham (Ralph) of Gallatin. Other survivors include grandchildren, Robert Lamb (Bonnie) of Atlanta, Ga., Lucye Lamb of Petersburg, Allison Lamb of Nashville, Kristin (Jared) Brown of Fayetteville, Ark., Clayton Campbell of Springdale, Ark., Matthew Durham and Alex Durham of Gallatin; and one great-grandchild, Jacob Brown. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by brother, Robert Ray; sisters, Ruth Ray and Doris Moore; and devoted son-in-law, Dr. Jack. H. Lamb. Funeral services were conducted Thursday afternoon at Fayetteville First Baptist Church with the Rev. Van Johnson officiating. Burial followed in the Lynchburg Cemetery beside her husband, Robert C. Parks, who passed away in 1998. Memorial contributions may be made to the Fayetteville First Baptist Church music ministry or building fund. Higgins Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Col. William (Robby) Thomas Robinson (Ret., USAF), 76, of Fayetteville, passed away peacefully at home on the evening of Sunday (Sept. 16, 2012). He was born March 5, 1936, in Rome, New York, the son of William Stanley and Irene Thomas Robinson. Col. Robinson served for 25 distinguished years in the Air Force, flying 100 missions in the Vietnam War. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Defense Superior Service Medal and Meritorious Service Medal. Col. Robinson served as the Air Force liaison for NATO at the State Department and Aerospace Maintenance Director at Mather AFB. Upon retirement from active duty, he worked for American General Life, and then retired to a life of golf, good times with dear friends, old and new, and authoring nine adaptations of classic literature for children for Dalmatian Press. A lifelong Methodist, Robby was a member of First United Methodist Church of Fayetteville where he served in the choir. Music was one of his greatest joys. He sang and toured with the Colgate 13 of Colgate University, from which he graduated in 1957 with a degree in English. He enjoyed making chords ring in many a barbershop quartet, and, with his family, he formed a gospel/bluegrass group. Robby also performed on stage in Gilbert and Sullivan productions, blending his talents of singing and acting with his spirited sense of humor. Col. Robinson is survived by his wife, Georgeanna (Georgia) Rodgers Robinson; son, William Steven (Alison) Robinson of Gallatin; daughters, Kathryn A. (Woodie) Knight of Franklin and Suzanne E. (Tim) Alexander of Mechanicsville, Va.; stepsons, Shannon Sharp of Rogersville and Sheldon (Kimber) Sharp of Tullahoma; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his sister, Carol Jean Smith, and brother-in-law, The Rev. Frank I. Smith. His family and friends will miss his warmth and playful wit, but rejoice that he now graces heaven with his humor and harmony. A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church of Fayetteville on Saturday, Sept. 22, at 11 a.m., with The Rev. Thomas Ward officiating. Visitation will be Friday, Sept. 21, from 6 until 8 p.m. at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church Building Fund, 200 North Elk Ave, Fayetteville, TN, 37334, the American Cancer Society Memorial Foundation Hope Lodge, 2008 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville, TN, 37203, or a charity of your choice. Higgins Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Don Kelso Scott, 72, of Fayetteville, died Monday night (Sept. 10, 2012) in Huntsville Hospital. A native of Lincoln County, Mr. Scott was the son of the late John D. and Lois Irene Mullinax Scott. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, former manager of Richard’s Lighting and a member of Smithland Community Church. Survivors include a daughter, Tanya Scott Branaman of Fayetteville; son, Shawn Kelso Scott of Superior, Colo.; grandson, LCpl. Gareth Colby Scott of Kaneohe, Hawaii; and one sister, Sue Ledsinger of Mt. Juliet. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Donna Kaye Cook. Funeral services were conducted Friday morning at Higgins Funeral Home with Chris Howard officiating. Burial followed in Rose Hill Cemetery beside his wife, Marilyn Scott, who passed away in 1996. Higgins Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

George M. Sparks, 84, of New Market, Ala., died Friday morning (Sept. 14, 2012) in Donalson Care Center. Mr. Sparks was a native of Lewis County, Ky., and the son of the late Walter and Lillie Sparks. He was a veteran of World War II, a dairy farmer and a member of the Christian Church. Survivors include his wife, Magdeline Mustard Sparks of New Market; three daughters, Rhonda Long of New Market, Vickie Lynn Hartley of South Poltsmith, Ky., and Stephanie D. Elliott of New Market; and one sister, Mary Rosencutter of Elyria, Ohio. Mr. Sparks was preceded in death by two sons, George Marshall Sparks, Jr., and Mark Anthony Sparks. Funeral services for Mr. Sparks will be conducted this week in Vanceburg, Ky. Higgins Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.